Release

______________________________________________________________________

Lanna walked into the building trailing slightly behind Katie. She
followed close behind just in case Kathryn fell over in pain from the
recent blow to her ribs.

"Are you sure your okay" Lanna asked for the 12th time.

"Lanna if you ask me that again I'm going to hit you in YOUR ribs"
Katie grumbled as she walked slowly to class.

"I'm sorry I just don't want you hurting" Lanna said softly.

Katie noticed that she was odd for a Klingon. Even a hybrid. "Lanna
you worry about me as much as my Mother does" Kathryn shook her head
as she entered their first class.

The other students began to applaud when they saw Lanna enter behind
Katie. Some cheered her name while others just smiled at their antics.

"What's this about?" Katie and Lanna asked at once.

"This is for taking Tom down a few pegs" Celes said coming up beside
them "And for apologizing publicly when you were wrong. Not many of
us would've had the courage to do either"

Lanna blushed and tried to hide behind Kathryn. She wasn't used to
being the center of attention. Not when she'd done something good
anyway.

"Wow. Looks like you made quite the impression Lanna" Katie whispered
into the Klingons ear.

The holoteacher activated "Good Morning class. Settle down and take
your seats Lessons are about to commence"

"HoloEducator 756 please send Kathryn Janeway and B'Elanna Torres to
the Main Office" The disembodied voice of the Central Computer droned
as soon as the room was quiet.

"Katie, Lanna, report to-"

"We know" Katie said wincing as she rose to leave the room. Lanna hot
on her heels.
______________________________________________________________________
Office

"So this is the young lady that beat you so badly yesterday?" Admiral
Paris said towering over Lanna.

Katie stepped forward unconsciously in an attempt to protect her
friend.

"Ahh Kathryn I understand you pulled her off my boy. Thank you. I'll
need you as a witness when she's 'Tried' for Assault" Paris motioned
towards Lanna. Men neither girl had seen upon entering flanked the
hybrid.

"Hey wait a minute what's going on here" Katie said fighting futiley
to get to Lanna's side.

"This 'girl' is being arrested for brutaly assaulting my son. She's a
menace" Paris fairly spit as he eyed Kathryn's aggressive stance
towards him.

"That assault was aggrivated. He was calling her names from the
minute he met her" Kathryn agrued placing her hands fimrly fisted at
her side.

"Did you witness my son calling her names?" Paris stared Kathryn down.

Katie realized at that moment that Tom Paris had gotten his arrogance
from his father.

"No. But Tal Celes did. So did many other people in their class"
Kathryn smartly sighted the most honest person she knew from the
class. Celes had won awards for honesty since grammar school.

"Oh" Paris turned an enraged eye on his son "Really" he then turned
to the Principal "Could we get this 'witness' Mr. Applebee?"

"Yes sir" the shorter man rushed to comply ordering the computer to
locate and summon Tal Celes. She was there in minutes.

"Hello Mr. Applebee, Admiral Paris" Celes said politely meeting their
eyes in greeting.

"Tal Celes did you hear my son verbally insult this young lady here"
Paris said without greeting.

"Yes he kept calling her 'turtle head'. She asked him to stop but he
coutinued. He made a rude gesture at her before she reacted" Celes
nodded rubbing her nasal ridges slightly.

Paris mutely turned to his son and shook his head in disgust "You
don't have to gaurd her" the men surrounding Lanna moved off "You
miss" he gestured towards Lanna" Need to learn to control your
temper. And Kathryn in the future choose your battles wisely. Just
because you won this one, doesn't mean you'll win the next time she
goes Klingon on someone."

"She's worth the chance Admiral. You should teach your son better
social etiquette, and you won't have to worry about her going Klingon
on him" Katie fairly sneeredthe the man. He was as prejudiced as his
son.

"I'm going to tell your father you need to better respect your
elders. If you don't you won't make it far in Starfleet" Paris huffed
before grabbing a silent Tom and marching out taking his men with him.

"If the people of Starfleet are as bigotted as he is, I don't want
any part of it" Katie mumbled taking Lanna's hand.

Mr. Applebee watched in amazement as an honest Bajoran and an Irish
spitfire saved a friend from a powerful military official. He felt proud
that he had such worthy students in his school. But he couldn't allow
the assault to go unpunished "Ms. Torres I've already informed your
father that you've been pulled from this school"

Katie and Lanna gasped in horror.

"We can't allow such behavior as your's to be present. I'm sorry but
you'll have to vacate the premises immediately" Mr. Applebee eyed the
girl hoping she didn't explode.

Lanna didn't. Kathryn did. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN SHE'S BEEN
PULLED"

Applebee took an instinctive step back. Kathryn advanced menacingly.

"She's being expelled for violent behavior"

"Well if she goes I do too" Kathryn crossed her arms stubbornly.

"Ms. Janeway your one of our top students. But we can't keep her here
without having to worry about the safety of your classmates. She has
to go" Applebee shook his head.

"Then I'm going too"

"I'm sorry you feel that way"

"I'm going to" Celes tossed in.

"What?" Applebee shook his head in consternation "You can't both
leave. Your the top female studenf yof your class"

"And we're no longer enrolled in your Academy" Celes stated
flatly "Kathryn, B'Elanna I'll give you a ride home"

The girls filed out. Katie tugged Lanehinehind her. The poor girl was
stupified by their support.
______________________________________________________________________

"So Kathryn you've walked out of school" Gretchen Janeway met them on
the porch of their farm house.

"They're racist" Katie replied holding Lanna up with sheer will
alone. The girl was damned heavy for being so small.

"I know. Now you know too" Gretchen sat the tray of lemonade she'd
been carrying down, and helped her daughter bring her stunned friend
to a nearby chair "I see you fight for what you believe in. I'm proud
of you"

Katie smiled in surprise, she'd expected anger and disbelief from her
mother for her actions. Not praise "Thanks Mom"

"You do plan on finishing school don't you Kathryn" Gretchen poured
cold water on a cloth and wiped Lanna's face with it slowly bringing
the girl back to reality.

"Yes. But I want to go somewhere that isn't racist" Katie sipped her
lemonade.

"Racism is everywhere sweetie" Gretchenrbbed Lanna's hands trying to
gain her attention "But there are places that will accept a Klingon
without speculationany any type"

"Like where" Katie sat forward wishing to know more about these
places. Places where her Lanna wouldn't have to worry about people
treating her different.

"Right here is one of them. I'll teach you both if I have too"
Gretchen spoke softly as she stroked Lanna's dark hair. Tracing the
waves lightly with her fingers.

"You'd teach us" Lanna said coming out of her stupor.

"Yes. I've taught Kathryn well haven't I?" Gretchen chuckled at the
astounded looks on their faces.

"How much do you know about Advaced Engineering and Astrophysics?"
Katie looked at her mother closely. Gretchen had always seemed to
know nothing about science. She knew plently about the Earth and it's
many growing things. But she'd never shown an interest in the stars.

"Nothing really. But for that we can get a computer Tutor" Gretchen
cuddled next to her oldest daughter "My little diplomat"

Lanna for the second time in a week realized why she loved Kathryn
Janeway. In her eyes she was perfect.
______________________________________________________________________
2 Years Later

"I can't believe you graduated at 14" Katie shook her head at the
proud Klingon standing before her.

Lanna was beautiful standing before her in her graduation dress. The
actual dress was hideous, as all fashion was to Katie. But to her
Lanna would look beautiful in anything, or nothing at all.

Lanna blushed and Katie eyed it. Watching as it turned the fair skin
of Lanna's clavicle as pinkish brown.

Gretchen Janeway stood back and watched them standing together among
their peers. She wondered if Katie knew how in love she was with the
young Klingon. Gretchen could tell she was. So could her husband
which worried her.

Edward had learned about Lanna's assault on Paris' son before he'd
actually met the girl. The Admiral's less than fair opinion of her
had biased her husband against the girl.

Edward hadn't apporved of Katie's friendship with her from the start.

"Well she is intelligent I'll give her that. But I don't like how
much time Kate is spending with her. She should be dating by now
she's 17. She shouldn't spend so much time with the little Klingon
girl" Edward Janeway grumbled next to his wifes ear.

"Oh Edward you poor blind man. Can't you see she's in love" Gretchen
gripped her husbands arm.

"She's in love with a child" Edward grouched.

"On Kronos that 'child' is considered a grown woman" Gretchen pointed
out.

"This isn't Kronos"

"But it's still love"
______________________________________________________________________

"Your sister is in love with the girl" 10 year old Annika Hansen
sighed.

"I know" Phoebe agreed. Sometimes she wished that Annika wouldn't be
so worried about who Katie liked and more about who Phoebe liked.

"What does she have that I don't have. What makes her notice Kathryn
that I don't posses" Annika whined as she watched the small party
from the top of the steps.

"You like Lanna don't you?" Phoebe sighed in resignation "They always
go for the dark and pretty ones"

"Lanna is soooooooo beautiful" Annika exaggerated.

"Yeah. But so are you. I don't see why you worry" Phoebe grumbled
before she knew what she was saying.

"I'm not worried" Annika shook her head covering up her
surprise "Phoebe"

"Yeah 'Nik"

"I think you're beautiful too"

Phoebe blushed. "I wonder if I could paint that"

"Paint what?" Annika asked glancing back down at the party. Tal Celes
was dancing with Sam Wildman. There wasn't any space between their
bodies.

"The way they look at each other" Phoebe pointed towards her sister
and Lanna.

"Like they want to eat each others faces off?" Annika pulled on the
light nightie she was wearing exposing her toes.

"Yeah" Phoebe giggled. She pinched Annika's toes making her friend
giggle and they rushed off the top landing and into Phoebe's room.
______________________________________________________________________
Next Morning

"So what do you plan to do with the rest of your life Kathryn" Edward
Janeway pointedly asked his daughter as they sat down to breakfast.

"I still plan on joining Starfleet Daddy don't worry nothing will
change that" Katie roller eyr eyes as she bit into a cinnamon roll.

"What if Lanna doesn't go will you still join Starfleet" Phoebe asked
scooping up some fluffy eggs.

"Lanna is going" Katie answered kicking her sister slightly under the
table.

"Ouch" Phoebe flicked eggs at Katie.

"What if she doesn't get accepted to Junior Starfleet Academy. Will
you still go Kathryn" her father turned his famous stare (that
Kathryn with later use herself) on his daughter.

"She'll be accepted Daddy. She's too intelligent not to be. After all
they let Tom Paris in. He's a complete idiot if it doesn't have
anything to do with flying or holograms" Katie reached for another
roll but her father slapped away her hand.

"Do not insult Tom Paris at my table" he said roughly grasping Katie's
wrist. "His father is a close friend of mine and I won't stand for
him to be put down in my presence"

"Sorry Daddy" Katie winced at the tight squeeze her father had her
wrist in.

"Besides that little brute will never get anywhere near Tom Paris
again. If Tom's going to Junior Academy here in Indiana she won't be"
Edward said proudly releasing his hold on Katie.

Katie cradled her arm as the last comment sank in. She stiffened at
the implications "That's not fair"

"She's a menace" Edward stated firmly.

"It was that one incident. Besides he aggrivated it" Katie argued to
her friends defense.

"She's a menace Kathryn. And it would do you well to stay away from
her" Edward shook his fork at Katie for emphasis.

Katie rose from the table and ran out the front door.

Gretchen Janeway looked at her husband in disgust "You just broke her
heart"

"How by telling the truth"

"No. By being as biggoted as the people you're supposed to protect
her from"
______________________________________________________________________

Katie ran all the way to Lanna's house. The door was unlocked as
usual and her father was absent.

"Lanna. Lanna!" Katie called running into the house. She sprinted up
the stairs to the bedroom as familiar as her own.

Lanna was asleep in her bed. Sprawled out naked the blanket only
covering the bottom half of her body.

Katie stopped a m a moment to enjoy the view before waking Lanna.

She came awake quickly "What's wrong"

"Tom's going to the Junior Academy. Admiral Paris made sure you
wouldn't be able to get in"

"No. That's not fair it wasn't my fault" Lanna fisted her hands in
her pillow. Tears began to roll down her face.

Katie gathered her close hoping to give solace to her friend. Seeing
Lanna so hurt broke her heart. "We can always go to a different
Academy. Indiana isn't the only place that has one"

"Is there another one that specializes in Science and Engineering"
Lanna wiped her eyes on Katies pyjamas. She wondered if Kate realized
that she wasn't wearing real clothes. And that she herself was naked
beneath the blanket.

"Yes but it's in California" Katie said looking Lanna in the eye "We
could go there. My Aunt had an apartment there. It's empty right now"

"You're willing to move so we can go to the same school" Lanna said
hugging Katie and trying not to notice how her bare nipples rubbed
against Katie's cotton covered ones.

"Yes"

"Then let's do it"
______________________________________________________________________